Ivy Tech Community College has named Dr. Kim Barnett-Johnson as its next chancellor for the Fort Wayne service area-, effective August 16, 2021. Current chancellor Dr. Jerrilee K. Mosier announced her retirement after serving 11 years with the College. The Fort Wayne chancellor position will include oversight and leadership of the College’s second-largest service area, including the eleven counties of Northeast Indiana: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley.
“Students are at the heart of Dr. Kim Barnett-Johnson’s long career at Ivy Tech,” said Dr. Sue Ellspermann, President of Ivy Tech Community College. “She has proven herself as a servant leader within the college. Dr. Barnett-Johnson is already engaged in many community initiatives, and will be exceptional at leading and growing partnerships with industry, K-12 education, and community organizations. She will ensure more college age students and working adult learners successfully complete in-demand degrees and credentials which lead to high-wage, high-impact careers or transfer to our four-year partners.”
“I am honored to be selected as the next chancellor of the Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne service area. I have dedicated the past 20 years of my career to this campus and the incredible faculty, and staff who move mountains to serve our students,” said Dr. Barnett-Johnson. “Ivy Tech’s mission is integral to the future of Northeast Indiana’s workforce and I am excited to take the helm and lead this phenomenal team to even greater heights.”
Dr. Barnett-Johnson currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the Fort Wayne campus where she influences practices locally and statewide through oversight of academic programming and support services, faculty development and promotion, student retention and completion, and dual credit administration. She brings more than 27 years of higher education experience including: Dean, I-Adapt/Degree Completion Coordinator, Adjunct Instructor, Director of Financial Aid, Director of Ethnic Student Programs, and Director of Minority Student Recruitment/Programs/
She has also played an integral role in the creation and leadership of campus student programs, such as the African American Male Initiative, and SPIRIT, both of which are student organizations created to provide mentorship and retention support to specific student populations, with the goal of student success through completion.
“In my soul, I believe that education is critical to our community’s success,” said Dr. Barnett-Johnson. “Ivy Tech is the catalyst for that success, and we live this mission daily. I can think of no better way to spend my time, than to lead my colleagues who, when paired with our dedicated legislators, community leaders, donors, and education partners, make up the most passionate team of changemakers I have had the pleasure of knowing. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I have walked alongside these folks for two decades, and I know we are up to the task.”
In addition to these activities, Dr. Barnett-Johnson has also been actively engaged in building community partnerships through current, and previous service, on community boards for organizations such as AWS Foundation, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, Parkview Multicultural Advisory Board, Dupont Hospital Community Engagement Board, SCAN, East Wayne Street Center, Mirror Me Foundation, and Homebound Meals. She also volunteers for organizations such as Unity Performing Arts Foundation, Junior Achievement, and Study Connection. Faculty, staff, students, and community partners alike have commended her for her commitment to education, humility, kindness, and dedication to student success.
Dr. Barnett-Johnson is a lifelong resident of Northeast Indiana. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Taylor University; a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Indiana University, Fort Wayne; and her PhD in Higher Education Administration from Indiana State University. She and her late husband Vincent are proud parents of three children: Eboni, Dalyn, and Drevon.
